OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

After a year at a four-year university, Sam Steger decided to change paths and follow his culinary passion. Now he’s the proud and successful owner of Mess Hall, which has already outgrown its space.

Steger credits his mom for starting him on the culinary journey. With her encouragement he decided to apply to CFCC.

At CFCC Steger developed cooking techniques and learned the business of running a restaurant. In addition to culinary skills, Steger learned purchasing, inventory, and cost control.

“We learned about product utilization,” Steger describes. “Basically, you go into a walk-in refrigerator, see what ingredients are in there, and then create a dish out of those items.”

“In the culinary program, everything finally clicked for me, and I knew I was doing what I was meant to do.”

“Originally, I was going to start part-time and prepare spices, rubs, pickles, and sauces,” Steger reveals. But after a pivotal conversation with a regular customer, Steger’s vision grew into a dine-in restaurant dream.

Steger secured a location for his business and he decided to stick with a simple menu of burgers and sandwiches.

“The more you do, the more potential of losing quality,” Steger says. “I wanted to keep the menu simple.”

Steger recently relocated Mess Hall to a new, larger location on Wrightsville Avenue in the spring of 2022. Customers can still expect the same delicious burgers and tots. Plans for the new location include a dog park so diners can let their furry friends tag along.

For those considering attending CFCC, Steger recommends thinking about what you actually want to do.

“Even if you are not sure what you want to pursue, go in with the attitude that you want to learn what is being taught,” Steger urges. “Challenge yourself to get the most out of your investment. And remember that the faculty and staff at CFCC are there to help you succeed.”

After serving in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC, Steve Grissom worked as an arborist, climbing trees to inspect them. When his knees started complaining, he began to look for a new line of work. He still had strong hand-eye coordination and decided to pursue his interest in barbering.

The schools that Grissom initially researched were very expensive for the amount of instruction. Then, he discovered Cape Fear Community College’s Barber School.

Grissom not only learned practical skills for cutting hair; he also learned business instruction, biology, and mathematics. The program prepares future barbers for the State Board of Barber Examiners and a career. After completing his apprenticeship, Grissom opened his own barbershop, Set Apart Barber Shop in Stanfield, NC.

“King was able to teach us everything we needed to know to enter the industry,” Grissom said. “The Barber School gave me all the tools and the foundation I needed to set up my own shop.”

Following completion of the program, Grissom opened a new luxury barber shop in downtown Wilmington, NC.

Because of the quality of instruction that Grissom received, he encouraged his son to attend CFCC Barber School.

“My son, Eli, was thinking about a career in barbering,” commented Grissom. “Once he saw the success that I had in my barbershop and how well CFCC worked for me, he signed up as soon as he graduated from high school.”

Eli Grissom completed the program in November 2022. After passing the State Board of Barber Exam, he will apprentice with his dad in the Wilmington shop.